GB2536254A

GB2536254A - Methods and apparatus for providing steam containing essential oils associated with aromatherapy

Info

Publication number: GB2536254A
Application number: GB1504066.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Maclean Colin; Maclean Leon
Original assignee: Maclean Int Ltd
Current assignee: Maclean Int Ltd
Priority date: 2015-03-10
Filing date: 2015-03-10
Publication date: 2016-09-14
Also published as: GB201504066D0

Abstract

A steam generator apparatus 30 has an oil inlet 38 and a steam chamber 44, connectable with the oil inlet to supply essential oil into the steam chamber, and has an outlet 68 to output a flow of steam containing the essential oil. Preferably there is a heater 64, and an apertured body 66 in the steam chamber. The steam chamber may have a water reservoir 42 connected to it with a sensor 54 disposed within to cause refilling of the water reservoir when, in use, the water level 60 falls below a predetermined level. The steam generator apparatus outlet may comprise a branched connector 68 to connect the steam chamber with the oil inlet and a steam dispensing head 34 to permit a supply of essential oil into the steam chamber and the output of a flow of steam containing the essential oil from the steam chamber. Preferably there is a valve between the oil inlet and the steam chamber. Also claimed is a shower or steam room, a method and an infuser kit using the steam generator apparatus.

Description

Methods and Apparatus for Providing Steam Containing Essential Oils Associated With Aromatherapy

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing steam containing essential oils associated with aromatherapy.

Background to the Invention

Aromatherapy involves the use of natural oils extracted from bark, flowers, fruit peel, leaves, roots, stems or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being. These so-called essential oils may be applied in many ways, including inhalation, massage and water immersion. It is believed that the inhaled aroma from essential oils may stimulate brain function and otherwise contribute to a person's wellbeing. Additionally, essential oils can be absorbed through the skin, from where they are believed to travel through the bloodstream to promote whole-body healing.

It is known to practice aromatherapy by delivering the essential oils in a flow of stream in a shower enclosure or steam room. In this practice, the steam generator is arranged to feed a flow of steam along a pipe to a steam dispensing head disposed in the shower enclosure or steam room. The steam dispensing head is provided with outlet apertures through which the steam flows into the shower enclosure or steam room and a cap that can be removed to allow a supply of essential oil to be poured into the body of the steam dispensing head. As the steam flows through the steam dispensing head, it picks up small amounts of essential oil from the pool of oil contained in the steam dispensing head body.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides steam generator apparatus as specified in claim 1 The invention also includes a shower or steam room installation as specified in claim I 1.

The invention also includes a method of providing a flow of steam containing an essential oil as specified in claim 13.

The invention also includes an infuser kit to connect with a steam chamber of a steam generator as specified in claim 18.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be well understood, some examples thereof will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a shower installation provided with steam generator apparatus; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of the steam generator apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of an oil inlet of the steam generator apparatus.

Detailed Description

Referring to Figure 1, a shower installation 10 may comprise a shower base 12, a back panel 14, a front panel 16 and opposed side panels 18 (only one of which can be seen in the drawing). The side panels 18 extend between the back and front panels to define an enclosed space 20 over the shower base 12. The back panel 14 and one or both side panels 18 may be a tiled wall of a building or the like. The front panel 16 is configured to provide an entrance to the shower enclosure 10 that can be closed in a substantially watertight manner.

The shower installation 10 further comprises a shower unit 22 and a shower head 24 that is connected with the shower unit. The shower unit 22 may be configured to function as a mixing device for hot and cold water supplies connected with the shower unit by respective hot and cold water pipes 26, 28. Alternatively, the shower unit 22 may comprise an electric heater to heat a cold water supply.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the shower installation 10 further comprises steam generator apparatus 30 comprising a steam generator 32 and a steam dispensing head 34. The steam dispensing head 34 is disposed in the enclosed space 20 and connected with the steam generator 32 by piping 36 to deliver steam from the steam generator 32 into the enclosed space via one or more outlet apertures 37. Provided it can withstand the temperatures encountered in functioning as a conduit for a flow of steam, the piping 36 may be rigid or flexible, as desired. In addition to the steam generator 32 and steam dispensing head 34, the steam generator apparatus 30 comprises an oil inlet 5.38.

Referring to Figure 2, the steam generator 32 comprises a housing 40 that houses a water reservoir (or water pressure chamber) 42, a steam chamber 44, a water inlet valve 46 and a drain valve 48. The water inlet valve 46 is an electrically actuated valve, for example a solenoid valve. The water inlet valve 46 is connected to an inlet end of the water reservoir 42 and to inlet piping 50. The inlet piping 50 is connected with a water supply and may, for example, be connected with the cold water pipe 28. The water reservoir 42 is supplied with water by opening the water inlet valve 46. The drain valve 48 is connected to the opposite, or outlet, end of the water reservoir 42. The drain valve 48 may be a manually operated valve and is arranged to allow the water reservoir to be drained when not in use.

The water reservoir 42 is connected with the steam chamber 44 by piping 52 connected between the outlet end of the water reservoir and a water inlet end of the steam chamber 44. The water reservoir 42 is provided with a level sensor, which in the illustrated example comprises two electrodes, or probes, 54. One of the probes 54 is connected with an electrical supply (not shown). When there is sufficient water in the water reservoir 42, the probes are electrically connected by the water. When the water level 60 falls below the level of the probes 54, the electrical connection is broken, which triggers the opening of the water inlet valve 46 to refill the water reservoir 42.

The steam chamber 44 is provided with a heater 64 arranged to heat the water in the chamber. In the illustrated example, the heater 64 comprises an electric heating element disposed in the steam chamber 44. Although not essential, the heater 64 may be disposed at the water inlet end of the steam chamber 44 adjacent the downstream end of the piping 52. Although not shown, the steam chamber 44 may be provided with a temperature sensor, or a temperature sensitive switch, arranged for interrupting the electrical supply to the heater 64 if the temperature in the steam chamber rises to a predetermined level. Alternatively, the energy supply to the heater 64 may be interrupted if the level sensor 54, or an additional level sensor, in the water reservoir 42 indicates the water level has fallen to a predetermined level.

The steam chamber 44 may be provided with an apertured diffuser body, which in the illustrated example comprises a perforated plate 66. The perforated plate 66 is disposed between the heater 64 and a steam outlet end of the steam chamber 44. The diffuser body 66 may function as a pressure reducer to reduce the pressure of the steam output from the steam chamber 44.

A combined inlet/outlet 68 is provided at the outlet end of the steam chamber 44 to provide an outlet for steam produced in the steam chamber and an inlet for essential oil supplied via the oil inlet 38. In the illustrated example, the combined inlet/outlet comprises a branched connector 68. The branched connector 68 may comprise a T-joint, which has a branch that is connected to the steam dispensing head 34 via the piping 36 so as to provide a flow path for steam travelling from the steam chamber 44 to the steam dispensing head. The branched connector 68 additionally has a branch connected with the oil inlet 38 via an electrically actuated valve 70 and piping 72 so as to provide a flow path for essential oil travelling from the oil inlet 38 into the steam chamber 44. The piping 72 may be flexible or rigid piping, as desired. The electrically actuated valve 70 may be a solenoid valve. The electrically actuated valve 70 may be manually operated by means of a switch 74, which may be push-button switch mounted in a suitable panel 78. It is to be understood that while for ease of representation the oil inlet 38, push-button 74 and panel 78 are shown disposed externally of the enclosed space 20, in practice they may be provided within the enclosed space 20, in which case the oil inlet and push-button may be mounted directly to one of the panels 14, 18.

Referring to Figure 3, the oil inlet 38 comprises a recess defining a trough 80 provided with a tubular outlet port 82. The outlet port 82 is provided with external threading to permit the oil inlet 38 to be secured to the panel 78 by means of a nut 84. For examples in which the oil inlet 38 is intended to be connected with the steam generator 32 via flexible piping 72, the outlet port 82 may be made sufficiently long to allow push-fitting of a flexible pipe onto the free end of the port. In such cases, the free end of the outlet port 82 may be left free of external threading to facilitate engagement with the piping and one of more barbs, or annular rings, may be provided to assist in retaining the piping on the outlet port. The oil inlet 38 comprises an upwardly facing opening 86 into which an essential oil may be poured into the trough 80 from a handheld container (not shown). The floor 88 of the trough 80 is configured to cause essential oil poured in through the opening 86 to flow towards the outlet port 82. In the illustrated example, the floor 88 of the trough 80 slopes downwardly towards the outlet port 82 to facilitate the flow of the essential oil out of the trough and into the piping 72. The inner wall 90 of the outlet port 82 may include a portion configured to form a continuation of the floor 88 so that there is a substantially continuous inclined surface to the free end of the outlet port to ensure the essential oil flows from the oil inlet 38 and into the piping 72. To facilitate the flow of the essential oil to the steam generator 32, it is preferable that the piping 72 is disposed such that there is a substantially continuous downward slope to the steam generator.

In use, the heater 64 is energised to boil the water in the steam chamber 44 to produce steam. The user pours an essential oil from a bottle or the like into the trough 80 of the oil inlet 38. The oil flows from the trough 80 down the piping 72 and pools above the solenoid valve 70. The user operates the push-button 74 to open the normally closed solenoid valve 70. The oil passes through the opened solenoid valve 70 and the branched connector 68 and flows into the steam chamber 44 where it is mixes with the steam. When it is judged that sufficient oil has been fed into the steam chamber 44, the push-button 74 is released to allow the solenoid valve 70 to close. The perforated plate 66 may assist in breaking up the inflow of essential oil to form droplets of oil to facilitate mixing with the steam. The pressure in the steam chamber 44 forces steam bearing droplets of the essential oil to flow from the steam chamber 44 into the branched connector 68. Since the solenoid valve 70 is closed, the oil laden steam flows into the piping 36, which conveys it to the steam dispensing head 34.

The oil laden steam then flows through outlet apertures 37 of the steam dispensing head 34 into the enclosed space 20. It is believed that by mixing the oil with the steam within the pressurised turbulent atmosphere in the steam chamber 44 it is possible to obtain higher levels of essential oil in the steam flow than is possible in conventional arrangements in which steam flows over a pool of essential oil disposed in the steam dispensing head.

The illustrated example shows steam generator apparatus 30 configured for use with a shower installation 10. A shower installation 10 as illustrated is typically suitable for use by just one person at a time. It is to be understood that the principles incorporated in the steam generator apparatus 30 can be incorporated in larger capacity apparatus configured to deliver steam to a steam room configured for use by multiple occupants. As will be known to those skilled in the art, a steam room is a room that may have tiled walls and seating for multiple occupants that is supplied with steam from a steam generator apparatus located outside of the room.

The steam generator apparatus may be incorporated in a shower installation kit that includes a shower unit and may additionally comprise a shower base and panelling.

Alternatively, the steam generator apparatus may be supplied as a kit for retrofitting to existing shower installations.

In the illustrated example, the steam chamber has a combined inlet/outlet for receiving a supply of essential oil and outputting a flow of oil laden steam. It is to be understood that this is not a necessity and a separate inlet and outlet may be provided.

This may be more convenient with larger capacity steam generator apparatus intended for supplying steam to multiple occupancy steam rooms.

In the illustrated example, the oil inlet 38 is shown disposed remote from the steam generator 32 and connected to the steam generator by piping 72. It is to be understood that in some examples, the oil inlet 38 may be fitted to the housing of the steam generator 32 so that it can feed essential oils into the steam chamber 44 via a valve disposed within the housing. This may be more convenient with larger capacity steam generator apparatus intended to supply steam to multiple occupancy shower rooms.

In the illustrated example, the steam chamber is provided with an apertured body in the form of a perforated diffuser plate. In other examples, other forms of apertured body may be used. For example, a mesh may be used. In addition to a pressure reducing function, the diffuser body may assist in breaking up the supply of essential oil in the steam chamber to facilitate mixing of the steam and essential oil. The diffuser body may also function to hold a supply of essential body in the steam chamber at a position in which it can best mix with the turbulent steam above the boiling water in the steam chamber. It is believed that in addition to providing steam pressure reduction or improved oil/steam mixing, the use of a diffuser body reduces the likelihood of oil residue forming on the heater.

In the illustrated example, the heater is disposed within the steam chamber. In other examples, a heater may be provided external to the steam chamber and may, for example, be disposed in a formation configured to be surrounded by water contained in the steam chamber. Only one heater is shown in Figure 2. However, it is to be understood that more than one heater may be provided.

It is to be understood that it is desirable to provide a flow path from the oil inlet to the steam chamber that extends downwardly to provide gravity feed of the essential oil to the steam chamber. This avoids the need to provide a pump or the like to assist the movement of the essential oil from the oil inlet to the steam chamber It will be understood that while it is desirable that the flow path extends substantially continuously downwardly, there may be some deviations from the downward direction of flow without losing the benefit of the gravity feed. For example, it is to be expected that in flowing the through the valve the essential oil may flow in a direction that has at least a significant horizontal component.

Alternatively, the steam generator apparatus may be supplied as a kit for retrofitting to existing shower installations. In other examples, a kit may be provided for retrofitting to an existing steam generator apparatus to configure the apparatus for outputting a flow of steam containing essential oil associated with aromatherapy. Such a kit may comprise an oil inlet to receive essential oil from a handheld container, a branched connector, a valve and piping. The piping is to connect the oil inlet with the branched connector, the valve is to control supply of the essential oil from the oil inlet to the branched connector and the branched connector is to permit the supply of essential oil to pass from the valve into the steam chamber and steam containing the essential oil to flow from the steam chamber to a steam dispensing head. The piping may be flexible piping, the branch connector may be configured to connect to the steam generator apparatus by means of a conventional screw fitting assembly and in examples in which the valve is an electrically actuated valve, the kit may be supplied with a battery power pack to provide the electrical energy used in actuating the valve. By these means, it is possible to provide a kit that allows easy retrofitting to an existing steam generator apparatus with the minimum of skill putting the project within the scope of DIY projects. In particular, by supplying a battery power pack for an electrically actuated valve, the need to interfere with the electrical supply to the steam generator apparatus is avoided, which may be an important consideration given the safety requirements attaching to such apparatus.

It may be desirable to limit the amount of essential oil supplied to the steam chamber in order to avoid too great a concentration of essential oil in the steam output from the steam generator apparatus. For this purpose, essential oil may be supplied in containers containing a single dose. Optionally, the opening to the oil inlet trough may be configured to mate with a shaped outlet of such a container to encourage used of containers containing the required dose. It is believed that for a steam generator apparatus supplying steam to a standard size shower enclosure, a dose of 5 ml is sufficient.

Claims

Claims 1. Steam generator apparatus to output steam containing an essential oil, said apparatus comprising an oil inlet and a steam chamber, wherein said steam chamber is connectable with said oil inlet to permit the supply of essential oil from said oil inlet into said steam chamber and has an outlet to permit the output of a flow of steam containing said essential oil.
2. Steam generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a heater arranged to heat water in said steam chamber to produce steam.
3. Steam generator apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said heater is disposed in said steam chamber.
4. Steam generator apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3, further comprising a water reservoir connected with said steam chamber to deliver water to said steam chamber to be heated by said heater.
5. Steam generator apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a sensor disposed in said water reservoir to provide an output to cause refilling of said water reservoir when, in use, the water level falls below a predetermined level.
6. Steam generator apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an apertured diffuser body disposed in said steam chamber.
7. Steam generator apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said oil inlet comprises a recess having an outlet port and surface configured to cause oil poured into said recess to flow towards said outlet port.
8. Steam generator apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said outlet port extends through a tubular member extending from said recess and an internal wall of said tubular member is configured to provide a continuation of said inclined surface.
9. Steam generator apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said outlet comprises a branched connector to connect said steam chamber with said oil inlet and a steam dispensing head to permit said supply of essential oil into said steam chamber and the output of said flow of steam containing said essential oil from said steam chamber.
10. Steam generator apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a valve between said oil inlet and said steam chamber, said valve being operable to control said supply of essential oil into said steam chamber.
11. A shower or steam room installation comprising steam generator apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
12. A shower or steam room installation as claimed in claim 11, wherein said oil inlet is connected with said steam chamber so as to provide a downwardly extending flow path between said oil inlet and said steam chamber to permit gravity feeding of said supply of essential oil from said oil inlet to said steam chamber.
13. A method of providing a flow of steam containing an essential oil associated with aromatherapy, said method comprising providing a supply of essential oil in a steam chamber of a steam generator so that said essential oil mixes with steam in said steam chamber and outputting a flow of steam containing said essential oil from said steam chamber.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising providing a diffuser body in said steam chamber.
15. A method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, further comprising loading said supply of essential oil into an oil inlet connected with said steam chamber and causing said essential oil to gravity feed along a downwardly extending flow path to said steam chamber.
16. A method as claimed in claim 13, 14 or 15, further comprising providing a branched outlet for said steam chamber to permit said supply of essential oil to pass from said oil inlet into said steam chamber and said flow of steam containing said essential oil to flow from said steam chamber to a steam dispensing head.
17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, further comprising operating a valve disposed between said oil inlet and said steam chamber to selectively admit said supply of essential oil into said steam chamber.
18. An infuser kit to connect with a steam chamber of a steam generator, said kit comprising an oil inlet to receive essential oil from a handheld container, a branched connector, a valve and piping, said piping to connect said oil inlet with said branched connector, said valve to control supply of said essential oil from said oil inlet to said branched connector and said branched connector to permit said supply of essential oil to pass from said valve into said steam chamber and steam containing said essential oil to flow from said steam chamber to a steam dispensing head.
19. A steam generator apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 and 3.